Nassau University Medical Center
2201 Hempstead Turnpike, East Meadow, NY 11554
www.nuhealth.net 516-572-5809
This Labor Day Weekend, the Muscular Dystrophy Association (MDA) telethon raised nearly $61.5 million dollars (USA Today). MDA officials say that is an increase of $2.6 million over last year’s fundraiser.
The 6 hour live broadcast of the 46th telethon, which was shortened by about 20 hours since last year, was the best showing since 2008, despite the absence of Jerry Lewis (USA Today). Jerry Lewis has retired as the host of the MDA Telethon after 45 years.
The funds raised by MDA will aid diseases including muscular dystrophies, motor neuron diseases, metabolic diseases of muscles, disease of peripheral nerve, inflammatory myopathies, diseases of the neuromuscular junction, myopathies due to endocrine abnormalities and other myopathies.
Muscular Dystrophy is a broad term for muscle-wasting diseases that are caused by defects in genes for muscle proteins. It refers to a group of genetic diseases marked by progressive weakness and degeneration of the skeletal or voluntary muscles which control movement (MDA). The muscles of the heart and some other involuntary muscles are also affected in some forms of MD, and a few forms involve other organs as well.
The causes of MD are flaws in muscle protein genes. Each cell in our bodies contains tens of thousands of genes, and within each gene is a string of chemical DNA which is the code of a protein. If the code is wrong, then there is a flaw in the protein. Muscular dystrophies are usually inherited but in some cases no family history may exist (MD).
No comments:
Post a Comment